Article of furniture



May 19, 1942. L. MIES ARTICLE of- FURNITURE Filed Nov. 26, 1938 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Loan 1c; MIL-'6 BY J? s ATTORNEY May 19, 1942..L. was

ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Filed Nov. 26, 1938 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR vLuoma M156 BY 1:, ATTORNEY Patented May 19, 1942 UNITE ARTICLE OFFURNITURE Ludwig Mies, Chicago, Ill.

Application November 26, 1938, Serial No. 242,480 In Germany August 14,1935 11 Claims.

My invention relates to an article of furniture, and more particularlyto a resilient support for chairs, stools, couches, or the like.

The hitherto usual resilient chair supports or the like formed of acontinuous member including a lower ground engaging portion, an upperseat engaging portion and an intermediate connecting portion have aconstant cross-section and a constant moment of resistance againstbending stresses throughout their length. This type of supports may beused, if the supports are formed of a material which has sufiicientelasticity and strength, such as steel tubing for example. This type ofsupports, however, is not adapted for the use of materials, such aswood, synthetic resin, sheet material or the like, which have acomparatively low degree of strength. The turn between the groundengaging portion and the intermediate connecting portion is subjected tothe highest stresses, if the chair or the like is under the load of theuser. If the material has a low degree of strength, the cross-section ofsaid turn must be of large size, and if the cross-sections of thesupport are of the same large size throughout the entire length of thesupport, the support lacks the necessary resiliency.

One object of my invention is to provide a resilient support for chairsor the like, which may be formed of a continuous member and permits theuse of a material, such as wood, synthetic resin or sheet material,which has a comparatively low resistance against bending stresses.

Another object of my invention is to provide a support which has agradually increasing resiliency from the ground engaging portion towardsthe seat engaging portion, whereby the portions of the support which aresubjected to the highest stresses, have the necessary resistance againstthe bending stresses acting thereon.

In order to carry out my invention in practice, I provide an article offurniture comprising supporting means having a front leg merging at itsupper and lower ends into rearwardly extending arms, the lower armforming a groundengaging base, and supporting means being formed of acontinuous integral strip of material, and the cross-sections of saidstrip taken in planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of saidstrip from a point of said lower arm to an upper point of said stripbeing varied in shape to give decreasing moments of resistance againstbending stresses caused'by a constant load on said seat member. Saidcross-sections may be varied in size or may be varied in the arrangementof their axes to give the decreasing moments of resistance against thebending stresses.

The above mentioned objects and advantages as well as other objects andadvantages will be more fully disclosed in the following specificationreference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part of thisspecification, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of two resilient supports according to myinvention, which carry a seat member shown in dash and dotted lines,

Fig. 1a is a fragmentary perspective view'of the lower portion of avariation-of the support according to- Fig. 1,

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the two supports, taken on line 2-2of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a perspective side view of another embodiment of a support,

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional View of the-support shown in Fig. 3, takenon line 44 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a perspective side View of a further embodiment of a support,

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the support shown in Fig. 5, takenon line 6-6 of Fig. 5,

Fig. '7 is a perspective side View of still another embodiment of asupport,

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the support shown in Fig. '7, takenon line 8-8 of Fig. 7,

Fig. 9 is a perspective side view of a'further embodiment of thesupport,

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the support shown in Fig. 9, takenon line III-I0 of Fig. 9,

Fig. 11 is a perspective side View of a support of sheet material,

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the support shown in Fig. 11, takenon line l2l 2 of Fig. 11,

Fig. 13 is a perspective side view of another embodiment of a support ofsheet material,

Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the support shown in Fig. 13, takenon line l4l4 of Fig. 13,

Fig. 15 is a perspective side view of another embodiment of the supportaccording to my invention,

shown in Fig. 15, taken on line l6-l6 of Fig. 15,

Fig. 17 is a perspective side view of a support composed of a pluralityof plies of different length,

Fig. 17a is a perspective side View of a variation of the supportaccording to Fig. 17,

Fig. 18 is a cross-sectional view of the support shown in Fig. 1'7 takenon line l8-l8 of Fig. 1'7,

Fig. 19 is a perspective side view of a support composed of a pluralityof tubes of different length,

Fig. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the support shown in Fig. 19, takenon line 2il-2ii of Fig. 19,

Fig. 21 is a perspective side View of another embodiment of a support,

Fig. 22 is a cross-sectional view of the support shown in Fig. 21, takenon line 22-42 of Fig. 21,

Fig. 23 is a perspective view of a chair, in which a portion of thesupport forms an arm-rest,

Fig. 24 is a rear end view of the chair shown in Fig. 23,

Fig. 25 is a perspective side view of a support, which may be used as asingle supporting means,

Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the support Fig. 26 is aperspective side view of still another embodiment of a support, and

Fig. 27 is a perspective side View of a supporting means in which twoside supports according to Fig. 26 are combined with each other to forma single supporting frame.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, i5 generally indicates a support, and I2generally indicates a seat member. The support l includes a lowerrearwardly extending arm or ground engaging portion I4, an upperrearwardly extending arm or seat engaging portion l6, and anintermediate connecting portion or front leg l8, which joins said groundengaging portion I l and said seat engaging portion It by turns 28 and22. The seat member l2 is secured to the seat engaging portions l6 ofthe supports l0 in any suitable manner. The seat member may include aseat and a back-rest, which form an integral piece as shown in Fig. l,or the seat member may consist of a seat only, or the seat member maycomprise a seat and a separate back-rest, which is attached to the seatin any suitable manner.

As will be apparent, the lower turn 20 is subjected to the highestbending stresses, when the chair is under the load of a user, and thebending stresses become smaller toward the end of the upper seatengaging portion 18. According to my invention, the lower portion of thesupport [0 has a cross-section with a moment of resistance, which mayresist the high bending stresses acting on this portion of the support.In accordance with the decrease of the bending stresses towards theupper portion of the support, I reduce the moment of resistance of thecrosssections of the support. In order to obtain said decreasing momentsof resistance, the rectangular cross-sections of the fiat bar formingthe support shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are gradually reduced from a largecross-section a of the ground engaging portion M to a small crosssectionb of the seat engaging portion i6. According to Fig. 1, the reduction ofthe crosssection starts at the beginning of the lower turn 20. Ifdesired, however, the reduction of the cross-section may start at apoint of the ground engaging portion 14 or at a point of the connectingportion or front leg [8. According to Fig. 1, the reduction of thecross-sections of the support Ill terminates at the beginning of theseat engaging portion IE, but it will be understood that the reductionof the cross-section may be continued up to an intermediate point ofsaid seat engaging portion IE or up to the free end of said seatengaging portion. Preferably, the ground engaging portion M has constantcrosssections throughout its length, but, if desired, the cross-sectionsof the rear portion 14' of the ground engaging portion [4 may be reducedin size, as shown in Fig. 1a. The above described gradual decrease ofthe moments of resistance from a lower point of the support If: to anupper point thereof results in a gradual increase of the flexibility ofthe support from its lower portion towards its upper portion. Thus, itis possible to form the support of a continuous member of a materialwhich has a low degree of strength and requires a large cross-sectionfor the resistance against the bending stresses and would lacksuflicient elasticity, if the support would have constant cross-sectionsthroughout its entire length.

Figs. 3 and 4 show another embodiment of my support. The ground engagingportion M has a rectangular cross-section c with the smaller material.

side thereof being in engagement with the ground. Said rectangularcross-section of the support is gradually reduced to a squarecrosssection d of the seat engaging portion IS. The gradual reduction ofthe cross-section results in a gradual decrease of the moments ofresistance.

According to the embodiment shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the ground engagingportion #4 and the seat engaging portion [6 have substantially the samerectangular cross-section, but the longitudinal axis AA of thecross-sections gets shorter and shorter from the ground engaging portionthrough the connecting portion or front leg I8 to the seat engagingportion until it becomes shorter than the transverse axis B-B, in orderto obtain the decrease of the moments of resistance. As best shown inFig. 6, the long side 6 of the rectangular cross-section of the groundengaging portion M is in upright position, while the long side e of therectangular cross--section of the seat engaging portion 16 is in ahorizontal position. The cross-sections of the connecting portion i8vary gradually in shape between the cross-sections of the groundengaging portion and the seat engaging portion.

The ground engaging portion [4 of the support shown in Figs. '7-10 has aprofile cross-secti0n of T-shape, which forms a reinforcing web 1. TheT-shaped cross-sections are continued through the connecting portion I8,but the height of said web f is gradually reduced towards the seatengaging portion lfi, so that the moments of resistance are graduallydecreased. According to Figs. 7-10, the seat engaging portion has arectangular cross-section. If desired, however, the web ,f may beextended to an intermediate portion of the seat engaging portion or tothe end thereof, whereby the height of the web is gradually reduced.While Figs. 7-10 show a T-profile, any other suitable profilecross-section may be used, such as a U-shaped or I-shaped cross-sectionfor example, whereby the web of the profile cross-section is graduallyreduced from a lower point of the support to an upper point thereof.

Figs. 11-14 illustrate a support made of a sheet The ground engagingportion M of the support has a cross-section provided with a rib or webg formed by impressing an indentation into the sheet material. Theheight of this reinforcing rib or web 9 is gradually reduced through theconnecting portion I8 towards the seat engaging portion it. According toFig. 11, the rib g terminates at an intermediate point of the seatengaging portion IS. The remaining portion of the seat engaging portionhas a rectangular cross-section. According to Fig. 13, the reinforcingrib g terminates at the end of the upper turn 22. If desired, however,the rib could be extended to the end of the seat engaging portion it,along which its height is gradually reduced. As will be easilyunderstood the support shown .in Figs. 11-44 may be formed of acontinuous strip of sheet material, which has the width h prior to theapplication of the indentation forming the rib 9. Furthermore, the stripof sheet material may be provided with any other suitable corrugatedcross-section, for example, a cross-section which forms a plurality ofribs.

According to the embodiment of the support shown in Figs. 15 and 16, theground engaging portion l4 and the seat engaging portion 16 haverectangular cross-sections of equal size, but the long side i of thecross-section of the ground engaging portion 14 is in an uprightposition, while the long side i of the cross-section of the seatengaging portion I6 is in a horizontal position.- Insofar as thisarrangement of the cross-sections is concerned, the support illustratedin Figs. 15 and 16 is similar to the support shown in Figs. and 6, butit differs therefrom in the following respect. While according to Figs.5 and 6 the cross-sections of the connecting portion or front leg l8vary in shape between the cross-sections of the ground engaging portionand the seat engaging portion, the connecting portion or front leg l8 ofthe embodiment shown in Figs. and 16 has the same cross-section as theground engaging portion and the seat engaging portion throughout itslength, but the connecting portion or front leg 3 is twisted to form atransition from the upright position of the cross-section of the groundengaging portion to the horizontal position of the cross-section of theseat engaging portion.

Figs. 17 and 18- illustrate a further embodiment of my support, in whichthe cross-sections vary in steps. According to this embodiment thesupport is formed of a plurality of superimposed plies of differentlengths which are connected with each other in any suitable manner. Theplies of any suitable material may be held rigidly together over theirentire length or they may be held rigidly together over a portion oftheir length only and may be arranged slidably on each other over therest of their length. As best shown in Fig. 17, the outermost ply is thelongest one and each following ply is shorter than the preceding one.The plies are arranged in such a manner that starting from the groundengaging portion M the number of superimposed plies is reduced in stepsin various cross-sections Zl,'

mm, nn, o0, pp towards the upper portion of the support. The reductionof the number of superimposed plies results in a decrease of the momentsof resistance. According to Fig. 17 all of the plies extend to the freeend of the ground engaging portion I4. Fig. 17a illustrates a variationof the embodiment shown in Fig. 17, according to which the plies are ofdifferent length at the rear portion M" of the ground engaging portionit, so that the latter has a steplike construction.

The support shown in Figs. 19-20 consists of a plurality of tubes ofdifferent lengths which are connected with each other in any suitablemanner. The tubes are arranged in such a manner that the number of tubesin various crosssections of the support is reduced in steps from theground engaging portion M to the seat engaging portion 1 5. The threetubes which are arranged alongside of each other extend over the entirelength of the support H]. The two tubes 32 which are arranged above saidthree tubes 30 extend to the intermediate point q of the seat engagingportion l6, and the tube 34 which is arranged on top of the tubes 32extends to an intermediate point r of the connecting portion I8.

The support shown in Figs. 21 and 22 also consists of a plurality oftubes connected with each other in any suitable manner. In thisembodiment, however, all of the tubes are arranged alongside of eachother. The tubes have different lengths. The tube 36 extends throughoutthe entire length of the support, the tubes 38'terminate at anintermediate 'point q of the seat engaging portion, the tubes 49terminate at an intermediate point r of the connecting portion [8 andthe tubes 32 terminate at an intermediate point 3 of the connectingportion.

Figs. 23 and 24 illustrate another embodiment of my support.Thejsupports ll] of the chair shown in said Figs. 23 and 24 are similarto the support shown in Fig. 21. In this embodiment, however, the tubes40 are extended, in order to form the seat engaging portion carrying theseat l2, while the tubes 36 and 38 form the armrest of the chair and arein engagement with the back rest. The outer tubes 43 of the two supportsH3 are connected with each other by the connecting portion 4| and forman integral member. Likewise, the tubes 36 of both supports areconnected with each other and are formed of a continuous tube.

Fig. 25 shows a support similar to the support shown in Fig. 21, inwhich,-however, the tubes are arranged and bent in such a manner thatthe support it may be used' as a single support for a chair.

Fig. 26 shows an embodiment of a support in which a plurality of tubes44, 46, 48, 5!) of different cross-sections are telescopically arranged.The cross-section of the tube 35 is smaller than the cross-section ofthe tube 44, the cross-section of the tube 48 is smaller than thecross-section of the tube 46, etc., so that the cross-sections of thesupport vary in steps from the lower portion thereof to the upperportion thereof and the moments of resistance are reduced accordin ly.

Fig. 27 shows a supporting frame of a chair in which two supports H?according to Fig. 26 are combined with each other by the connectingportions 52 and 54, so that they form a continuous supporting frame.

' The supports shown in Figs. 19-27 may be formed of solid rods insteadof tubes, if desired.

Figs. 1-22 and 26 illustrate supports which may form individual membersof a chair, as shown in Fig. 1. If desired, however, two supports of anyembodiment shown in any of the Figs. 1-22 may be combined with eachother at their upper and/or lower ends, as is shown in Figs. 23 and 27for example, so that they form .a supporting frame forming an integralpiece.

Furthermore, the upper portion it of any embodiment of the supportsshown in Figs. 1-22 and 26 and 27 may be used as an arm-rest engagingtheback-rest of the seat-member, as shown in Fig. 23 for example. In such acase the seatportion of the seat-member is connected to the intermediateportion IQ of the supports and does not rest on the upper portion [6.

. Moreover, insertions of a material capable of resistance to bendingforces may be arranged in the supports. Said insertions may be ofconstant cross-sections. Furthermore, said. inser-- tions may havegradually varying cross-sections or may be made of various materials, inorder to assist the increasing of the flexibility of the support from alower point of the support to an upper point thereof.

I have described preferred embodiments of my invention, but it is clearthat numerous changes and omissions may be made without departing fromthe spirit of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. An article of furniture comprising supporting means, a seat membercarried by said supporting means, said supporting means having a frontleg merging atits upper and lower ends into rearwardly extending arms,the lower arm forming a ground-engaging base, said supporting meansbeing formed of a continuous integral strip of material, and. thecross-sections of said strip taken in planes perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of said strip from a point of said lower arm to anupper point of said strip being varied in shape to give decreasingmoments of resistance against bending stresses caused by a constant loadon said seat member.

2. An article of furniture comprising supporting means, a seat membercarried by said supporting means, said supporting means having a frontleg merging at its upper and lower ends into rearwardly extending arms,the lower arm forming a ground-engaging base, said supporting meansbeing formed of a continuous integral strip of material, and thecross-sections of said strip taken in planes perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of said strip from a point of said lower arm to anupper point of said strip being varied gradually in shape to givegradually decreasing moments of resistance against bending stressescaused by a constant load on said seat member.

3. An article of furniture comprising supporting means, a seat membercarried by said supporting means, said supporting means having a frontleg merging at its upper and lower ends into rearwardly extending arms,the lower arm forming a ground-engaging base, said supporting meansbeing formed of a continuous integral strip of material, and thecross-section of said strip taken in planes perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of said strip from a point of said lower arm to anupper point of said strip being gradually reduced in size.

4. An article of furniture comprising supporting means, a seat membercarried by said supporting means, said supporting means having a frontleg merging at its upper and lower ends into rearwardly extending arms,the lower arm forming a ground-engaging base, said supporting meansbeing formed of a continuous bar, and the cross-sections of said barbeing of various size and being gradually reduced from a point of saidlower arm to an upper point of said bar.

5. An article of furniture comprising supporting means, a seat membercarried by said supporting means, said supporting means having a frontleg merging at its upper and lower ends into rearwardly extending arms,the lower arm forming a ground-engaging base, said supporting meansbeing formed of a continuous integral strip of material, at least aportion of said strip having a profile cross-section provided with aweb, and the height of said web being gradually reduced from said lowerarm towards said upper arm.

6. An article of furniture comprising supporting means, a seat membercarried by said supporting means, said supporting means having a frontleg merging at its upper and lower ends into rearwardly extending arms,the lower arm forming a ground-engaging base, said supporting meansbeing formed of a continuous integral strip of material, at least aportion of said lower arm and of said front leg having a profilecrosssection provided with a web, and the height of said web beinggradually reduced from said lower arm towards the upper end of saidfront leg.

'7. An article of furniture comprising supporting means, a seat membercarried by said supporting means, said supporting means having a frontleg merging at its upper and lower ends into rearwardly extending arms,the lower arm forming a ground-engaging base, said supporting meansbeing formed of a continuous integral strip of material, at least aportion of said strip including said front leg and at least a portion ofsaid rearwardly extending arms having a profile cross-section of a web,and the height of said web being gradually reduced from said lower armtowards said upper arm.

8. An article of furniture comprising supporting means, a seat membercarried by said supporting means, said supporting means having a frontleg merging at its upper and lower ends into rearwardly extending arms,the lower arm forming a ground-engaging base, said suporting means beingformed of a continuous substantially flat strip of sheet material, areinforcing web being formed in said sheet material by an indentationimpressed therein, said reinforcing web extending throughout at least aportion of said strip of sheet material in longitudinal direction ofsaid strip and the height of said web being gradually reduced from saidlower arm towards said upper arm.

9. An article of furniture comprising supporting means, a seat membercarried by said supporting means, said supporting means having a frontleg merging at its upper and lower ends into rearwardly extending arms,the lower arm forming a ground-engaging base, said supporting meansbeing formed of a continuous substantially fiat strip of sheet material,a reinforcing web being formed in said sheet material by an indentationimpressed therein, said reinforcing web extending throughout at least aportion of said lower arm and of said front leg in longitudinaldirection of said strip, and the height of said web being graduallyreduced from said lower arm towards the upper end of said front leg.

10. An article of furniture comprising supporting means, a seat membercarried by said supporting means, said supporting means having a frontleg merging at its upper and lower ends into rearwardly extending arms,the lower arm forming a ground-engaging base, said supporting meansbeing formed of a continuous substantially fiat strip of sheet material,a reinforcing web being formed in said sheet material by an indentationimpressed therein, said reinforcing web extending throughout the lengthof said front leg and throughout at least a portion of said rearwardlyextending arms, and the height of said web being gradually reduced fromsaid lower arm toward said upper arm.

11. An article of furniture comprising supporting means, a seat membercarried by said supporting means, said supporting means having a frontleg merging at its upper and lower ends into rearwardly extending arms,the lower arm forming a ground-engaging base, said supporting meansbeing formed of a continuous strip of material, said strip having asubstantially rectangular cross-section in said upper and lowerrearwardly extending arms, the rectangular crosssection having a longside and a short side, the

long side of the cross-section being in upright position in the lowerrearwardly extending arm and being in horizontal position in the upperrearwardly extending arm, and the front leg having cross-sections beingvaried gradually in shape between the cross-sections of the lower andupper rearwardly extending arms.

LUDW'IG MIES.

